Many dead in Nigeria riots: Red Cross

Post-poll riots in northern Nigeria have killed 'many people' and the number of wounded from two days of unrest has reached more than 360, a Red Cross official says.

Things are relatively calm right now, but violent protests went on last night, especially in Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara (states)," Umar Abdul Mairiga, the Nigeria Red Cross disaster management coordinator, told AFP.

"What may come out of there is not very palatable because many people were killed, especially in southern Kaduna."

He said the number of wounded in two days of unrest has increased to 362 from 276 on Monday. The injuries vary from gunshots and machete wounds to bruises, he said.

At least 15,000 people have been displaced by the riots that began sporadically over the weekend and spread quickly to some 14 states on Monday over allegations of rigging in Saturday's elections won by President Goodluck Jonathan.

"The numbers are growing," said Mairiga, adding "the displaced people are getting hostile because nothing is coming up in terms of relief."